FBI probe of Burbank police focusing on alleged excessive force involving 12 officers

The FBI investigation into the Burbank Police Department is focusing on allegations of excessive force by officers, court documents obtained by The Times show.

Federal investigators have told the Burbank officials to turn over reports involving 12 current and former officers, according to a federal grand jury subpoena obtained by The Times.

The subpoena specifies information related to "use of force, defensive tactics, Tasers, pepper spray, or the rules and ramifications pertaining to the use of excessive force or a violation of civil/constitutional rights."

In addition, the department has been told to produce records related to internal affairs investigations initiated in response to use-of-force complaints between 2003 to the present for the officers named in the subpoena.

Officials with the FBI confirmed Wednesday that they are investigating possible civil rights violations by Burbank Police officers. Sources familiar with the investigation said it was unrelated to a series of recent lawsuits by seven officers against the department and its management alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller would not comment on specifics of the probe by the agency's civil rights division or on how long the probe would last.

According to the subpoena, authorities requested records related to several officers including Omar Rodriguez, Jose Cruz Duran, Neil Thomas Gunn Sr., Christian Dereck Canales, Jon Murphy Jr., Mike George Reyes, Steve Sarkis Karagiosian, Armen Dermenjian, William Hampton "Bill" Taylor, Nick Wayne Nichols, Tommy Perez and Edgar Manuel Penaranda, according to the subpoena.

Federal officials are seeking use-of-force complaints or allegations generated in response to a Dec. 28, 2007, robbery of Porto's Bakery a well as records in connection with the Aug. 23, 2007, arrest of Rene Escarsega, the subpoena states.

At least three of the officers -- Karagiosian, Rodriguez and Taylor -- are among seven current or former officers who have filed suit against the city and police department alleging violations of civil rights.

The latest was filed last month by Taylor, who alleged that his demotion to captain from deputy chief was due to supporting officers who had filed complaints against the department.

Karagiosian and Rodriguez were part of a lawsuit filed in April against the police department and top managers by five officers who alleged a pattern of racial discrimination and retaliation, as well as unlawful demotions or firings.

Among the most explosive claims were that department officials tolerated an environment in which officers commonly used slurs about race, ethnicity and sexual preference directed at them, their colleagues, suspects and the public.

Burbank City Atty. Dennis Barlow said he was unable to comment on the FBI investigation or the lawsuits against the city and Police Department, citing pending litigation.

Mayor Gary Bric said he was confident that the investigations into the department, which also includes an independent probe by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, would be thorough and complete. He said there would be no limits on investigators.

"I'm sure people are looking at this and have questions and concerns about what's happening to our Police Department," Bric told The Times Wednesday. "But we can assure there's been no impact on public safety."

-- Andrew Blankstein

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Comments

[Captain Renault]

I am shocked, shocked, to hear that the BPD is alleged to have used excessive force, racial slurs and engaged in gender discrimination.

Maybe its time for Federal Oversight.

[Saul]

PIGS

[theidahokid]

Me want money, me want lot's of money, then me will be happy.....

[Marxo]

Maybe they should investigate Glendale pd too

[Burbank]

One of the MAIN reasons I like being in Burbank is the police- they do not f87k around with criminals here. Burbank is one of the safest cities. I would hope they would not demote based on race or preference, but you keep beating down cops then they stop caring about their territory. Plus, cops have to have some criteria on anti-social and narcissistic personality just to become a cop. Who else wants to ruff people up, maybe shoot people and be shot at? Hello? You have to let some gruff behavior slide- a bunch a sensitive dudes does not a cop make. I am on your side. Do your best and hang in there.

[Lifelong Burbankian]

While it is common knowledge that the Burbank PD is sometimes over-zealous in their enforcement of the law (the running joke is that they use the helicopter to police jay-walkers) I have NEVER in my LIFE seen actual excessive force being used. Burbank is a peaceful town, and I have never actually SEEN any abuses occur from ANY officers.

And I am a guy who generally does not like authority. I mean, I really don't like authority. I fully recognize that police are a necessary part of city government.

I think as far as city police go, Burbank police actually do a good job, and it isn't easy for me to admit that.

[H. Craig Bradley]

IN THE END, THE CAPTAIN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS SHIP

Well, there is a bit of fog associated with the alledged civil rights violations. No doubt some police officer careers are going to end as a result of the FBI investigation. However, it is important to look below the stated issues to the real issues which are behind all the manifistations of conflict. The stated issues are probably not related to the real, underlying issues.

Officers are upset they did not get treated fairly and management is responsible for not satisfactorily addressing these greivences. Allowing employee grieviences to spill over into the conduct of the department is not good management. Granted, police work is a tough job, always has been. Still, if you take the job, you have to perform and these kinds of scandels are career killers.

[Norman]

Ha Ha Ha Karma is a bueatiful thing may you all see the light and change your racist ways of dealing with a diverse public..

[Brettstrodamus]

BPD, keeping Burbank white since 1911!

[Tommy T]

With the russian Armenian Mafia moving in the area and buying up all the homes with dirty money, the police have to be tough.
If you haven't noticed Burbank is much nicer than all the other surrounding communities like N.Hollywood and Sun Valley because of one reason.
They have a great police department. They have kept this city safe for decades. keep up the good work BPD and dont let this media hype get you down. ....TT

[DR]

All over the united states there are continuling abuses of power and discrimination usually by a few but tolerated by many that are aimed at minorities and those that would stand up for them. I am ashame that we haven't learn from the past and remove those that would do harm to the good name of many law enforcement organizations.
And we see it repeated over and over, now here in the city of Burbank PD.

[tom wethers]

No surprise here...
the Burbank police FORCE is more arrogant and dismissive to civil liberities then most of this nations already 'terminator want a bee' & non tolerant police.

[DR]

All over the united states there are continuling abuses of power and discrimination usually by a few but tolerated by many that are aimed at minorities and those that would stand up for them. I am ashame that we haven't learn from the past and remove those that would do harm to the good name of many law enforcement organizations.
And we see it repeated over and over, now here in the city of Burbank PD.

[Locrian]

Very glad to hear this. When I lived there, I saw only racism from police officers in Burbank. When I moved and contnued to work in Burbank, I had a screaming match with a boss. Someone in the building called the Burbank police amd they arrived about one hour after we finished. They took me to a hospital claiming I was suicidal even after I told them I would never think of committng suicide and planned to live to 110. While detained in a hospital inLA county I was released six days later only to find my house robbed.

You're not even safe if you're white in Burbank. They should not be allowed to be seperate from the county police officers.

[frank carter]

fire the guys from the top, who play dumb and can't believe what happen. A Clean sweep all the way to the bottom of the barrel and some disinfect to rid of what's left over from before...

[Alfredo Amaya]

Cpt. Renault, with all do respect, how naive of you is it to believe that BPD would not have such allegations. Almost every police department has this for various reasons.

Some are just under wraps. BPD just happened to go a little to overboard and they got themselves on the radar.

[Joe Friday]

Burbank Police has always been a good police department. It is the likes of a certain police officers that will destroy the name of a good department. If I read this correctly, it looks like that Taylor, Rodriguez, and Karagosian are the bad apples of the police department. They are being investigated by the FBI but yet they file lawsuits. That would look like a diversion device if I ever saw one. Just the Facts, Maam.

[secala]

BPD is kind of evil....

[steve]

I grew up in Burbank and used to get annoyed when they had nothing better to do than break up our parties while in High School, however, they were always very cool to me as it was a small town in the 80's and if you were decent with them they wouldn't make a problem. They would even joke around with you. Pretty good group of guys. I can never recall ever seeing them use excessive force, unlike the LAPD. Not saying it didn't happen, I just never saw it. They always seemed to avoid it if they could. We'll see how this plays out.

[Tammy Morgan]

It makes my anger a little more at ease that the BPD is being investigated by the FBI. My son, at the age of 16, was beat up by 4 police officers ending in me having to have the paramedics called and written proof by the paramedics that he had been beaten. I don't care what they said their reason was, there is no reason to beat a minor. They lied and said several things on why they chased him down and I guess that gave them justification on why it took place. I hope the officers involved get what is coming to them because they run around this town like Mayberry cops.

[A BPD Victim]

Wow - surprise suprise here. Anyone else surprised it's taken this long for the bigger law dogs to come down on these fools? I appreciate our honest and hard working BPD officers but really, it's been long overdue for these racist and power abusing pigs to be put in check.

[GaryBrandenburg]

Baed on 24yrs Federal Police Sgt/Chief, it is not often you find a good man within the brass, to stand up for what is right. Taylor, ex-Deputy Chief, appears to be just that, "Their Scape Goat" because he was not afraid to stand up for the rights of "His Men", an oath he takes an an Officer from jump street (maybe un-written) but an true oath un-the-less.. Wow, too much force used to stop murders, rapes, robberies, auth-theft, home invasions, kidnappings, crazy drunk drivers, and our beloved drug dealers.. I am so sorry that "Mr-Protector" stepped on your pride and maybe (ever-so-slightly) on your civil rights BUT what about those you Robbed-Killed-Raped, oh ya, forget them because they either can't complain (as they are dead) or too damn afraid to speak out. Wear a badge for aday, get spit in the face and cussed at.. Oh, that just comes with the territory, what if a teller at McDonalds gets spit on or hit, because there was only one pickel on his burger, that would fall within the territory, wouldn't it.. But never mind, these cops, pigs, coppers, They Only Put Their Life On The Line For You 24-7..Let us stand up for the wrong-doings, towards our everyday heros "Our Officers"...

[Deb]

I have been almost a life long Burbankian. I raised my kids here and my children were HALF Hispanic and HALF White. My kids were harrassed to no end in Burbank. One even told my teenage son years ago after he was stopped by Burbank Police that "you could easily be found dead in an alley". "And nobody would even know what happened to you". YEP that is what Burbank PD told my son. He is in his 30's now and we still live in Burbank. He is still stopped in his car ONLY because he looks Hispanic. He is a college grad and works full time and is doing great. I think a FEW of Burbanks cops are spoiling it for all the rest. GET RID of them and throw them in Jail for violating peoples civil rights and trust.

[Deb]

Years ago my son and daughter both were a LITTLE wild..OK a little wild. The police came to my home, I am an RN and they came to my home looking for my kids. The one white cop came in my house and I told him. Burbank is so racist...and you know what the cop said....I swear to God...."YES, WE CAN BE"....all while my Hispanic boyfriend was in the living room watching TV. (My boyfriend did NOT hear the cop say this) I am white and he had NO idea that my kids OR boyfriend were half Hispanic. Burbank Police have always been known for cleaning up crime...BUT some have also ALWAYS been known for being racist against anyone in the city who is NOT white. I have lived in this city for 33 years. ALSO if anyone files a lawsuit against ANY Burbank cop, Burbank PD immediatly files a counter suit agains you. They do this to intimidate you to NOT file a suit. This was told to me by a Los Angeles Police Officer who works in North Hollywood Division. I DO live in Burbank because of the low crime and I am sure the Burbank Police are a main reason for this. BUT, I think there are a few VERY heavy handed cops in this city and those are the ones who need to go and even have charges filed on them. To the GOOD COPS in this city. Keep up the good work.

[scot]

WOW! Dog pile on BPD! Any of you ever live in LAPD area? BPD is a GREAT Police Department, I feel extremely safe in Burbank, you call BPD and they are there before you hang up the phone, they are respectful and professional, and I live a alternative lifestyle, never had any disrespect, I guess it boils down to how you deal with them and what if any respect you show to them! Everyone has a story and there is always two sides to every story! Keep up the great work BPD and thank you!

[Paul Jay Salerno]

No surprise here. There's an old Sicilian expression " A fish stinks from the head"

[Brent Berry]

I live in Burbank, and have had my constitutional rights violated by the BPD. An officer violated the Constitution, and accused me of a crime to cover it up. A Lt.( the one being investigated) tried to dissuade me from complaining, and later lied about that. The FBI needs to stop this departments regular abuse of law, and restore the constitutional rights of those who live in or visit Burbank.

[Brent Berry]

I have personally had my rights violated by Lt. Dermenjian. I KNOW that he is a liar, and I KNOW he covers for crooked cops. I filed a formal complaint, and went through a year long "investigation" The officer accused me of a crime in order to cover HIS crime! Lt. Dermenjian attempted to dissuade me from complaining. When I called back and asked for his information, he LIED and claimed to have never said any of what I just heard him say 5 minutes earlier. Eventually the chief's office sent me letter, upholding the accusation against ME! Hopefully someone will stop these corrupt cops from violating peoples rights and running roughshod over the constitution.

[MISS JUSTICE]

SCREW BPD...its all there fault that the officer killed himself there very corrupted, mean, cold hearted police officer....im not suprised this happened...burbank police are horrible..that station needs to be taken over from the sheriffs...bpd are a gang of there own. im 100% they aRe using exsesive force. be cause ive seen them do it!
but O it doesnt matter what i saw because im not a police officer...bpd has messed ppl lives up..

PLEASE THERES MORE GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT!!!
Some one nees to do something about this.
along with the rest that are corrupted and using false accusation that ruins people lives...are
detective nunez, reyes, rodriguez, CANALES, CAMPBELL...AND man more...

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CLEAN THAT DIRTY POLICE STATION!!!

burbank police is in violation of civil/constitutional rights."
iVE SEEN THEM DO IT!!!